Battle of Hanoi (1946)

Battle of Hanoi
Part of the First Indochina War

Viet Minh soldier Nguyen Van Thieng holding a lunge mine at Hàng Đậu Street in December 1946
Date19 December 1946 – 18 February 1947
Location21°2′N 105°51′E / 21.033°N 105.850°E / 21.033; 105.850
Result

French victory

Territorial
changes
French capture of Hanoi
Belligerents

French Union

 Democratic Republic of Vietnam

Commanders and leaders
Louis Morlière
Pierre-Louis Débes
Vương Thừa Vũ
Trần Độ
Units involved
French Far East Expeditionary Corps Hanoi Youth Militia Corps
Suburban People's Armed Militia
Capital Regiment:128
Strength
6,000 men:127 2,000 militia, 1,000-2,000 regulars :130
Casualties and losses
160 soldiers and 100 civilians killed
230 civilians missing
Several hundred killed:134
Battle of Hanoi
Location within Vietnam

On December 19, 1946, Viet Minh soldiers detonated explosives in Hanoi, and the ensuing battle, known as the Battle of Hanoi marked the opening salvo of the First Indochina War.